A pacifier can be very soothing to a teething baby. But sucking on a pacifier past age of three can make a bad overbite or cross bite worse. Also, some experts think that children with speech impediments (like lisps) should avoid pacifiers altogether since they may aggravate the situation. To figure out what is best for your child, talk with your baby dentist.

When buy a PPO or an Indemnity (Free choice of provider) plan it is important to understand what an annual maximum limitation is and how it effects you.  Let’s say you go to your dentist for your cleaning and check up. After some X-rays they discover you have a tooth with bad dental decay and you will need a crown.   If you go to an expensive dentist in order to get your crown you may run into what is called an annual maximum limitation.

To understand what this is a maximum limitation is the cap on what your dental insurance plan is willing to pay out for covered services provided each year per person.   A $1000 dollar annual maximum for an individual plan is common but they can range between $1000 – 2000.  With that in mind, before buying this type of dental insurance plan you should think of both your current and possible future needs in order to not exceed your annual maximum limitation.

Many of our family dental insurance plans provide access to more than 80,000 providers nationwide and include professional dentists located near your home.  Family dental care doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  Family dental insurance will protect a family’s oral health and insure that trips to the dentist do not painfully affect the your wallet.

Family insurance dental plans are the greatest way to make sure healthy kids with great smiles and a strong mouth and teeth.  Family dental insurances include great benefits and coverage that includes everyone in your family.  Family members For most dental insurance plans are discussed in your household children under 18 years.  Family dental insurance for better oral health is a key aspect that creates a feeling of bond between the family members and is one of the most popular supplemental options for overall medical insurance policies.

There are a multitude of family dental insurance plans that can provide the right amount of coverage for your entire family at an affordable rate.  With a family dental insurance plan you will have access to oral surgeons, endodontists, pedodontists, periodontists and orthodontists. In addition, under an individual and family dental insurance plan basic preventative services such as teeth cleaning and oral exams are generally covered 100%.

Family dental insurance plan works absolutely for those who desire coverage for family members.  A family dental insurance plan is one of the most popular supplemental options for overall medical insurance policies.  Family dental insurance plan is a very great way to cover your family, at reduced costs and greater benefits.  Most people that have an individual or family dental insurance plan have it provided to them under an employer-sponsored group dental insurance plan.

When buying a dental PPO insurance plan understanding how it helps to reduce your dental care cost is important in buying the correct dental insurance plan for you and or your family.  PPO Dental insurance plans are based on a cost sharing concept.  That is where both you and your insurer pay a certain percentage of the cost for the dental procedure you receive.   There are three main categories of procedures and they will normally have different cost sharing breakdowns.

1) Diagnostic/Preventative Services:  Under this category it will normally include oral exam, some x-rays and your basic cleaning. Cost sharing coverages will very depending on the plan but typically the insurer pays 80 to 100 percent for these types of procedures and you pay 20 to 0 percent.

2) Basic (Restorative) Services: Under this category it will normally include silver (some limited resin) fillings for cavities, Simple tooth extractions and re-cementing of existing crowns and bridges.  Cost sharing coverages will very depending on the plan but typically the insurer pays 80 percent for these types of procedures where as you pay the remaining 20 percent.

3) Major Restorative Services:  Under this category it will normally include, crowns, partial and complete dentures, as well Endodontics (Pulpal therapy and root canals), Periodontics (Treatment of diseases of the gums), and Oral Surgery (Extractions and other oral surgery including pre and postoperative care) Cost sharing coverages will very depending on the plan but typically the insurer pays 50 percent for these types of procedures and you pay the other 50 percent.

4) Some PPO plans may offer a fourth category called corrective services: This generally includes orthodontia (braces).

Cost sharing will very and can be limited in coverages.   It is important to know that some PPO cost sharing is can also be based on a first second and third year bases where as each year the company increases their coverages to pay out more until the third year where it then stays the same for as long as you may continue to have the plan.

When your baby has several teeth, you can start brushing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush.   Use a baby tooth brush or kid size toothbrush since they are smaller and will fit your baby mouth better.

Once your baby’s first tooth appears, gently rub the tooth with a washcloth twice a day.   You must never put your baby to sleep with a baby bottle that has anything other then water, since the sugars in milk can cause tooth decay.

Before your baby start cutting his or her baby teeth,  make sure to clean your baby’s gums with a damp cloth a couple of times a day (ideally either after feedings or before sleeping) to get him or her used to the feeling which will also make it easier to clean their teeth as they come in.

Even though baby teeth do eventually fall out, it is still important to take proper care of them, as baby teeth are important for speech development, eating, and ensuring proper placement of permanent teeth.

Question:  I have a nine year old son.  I live in California but his Dad live is  Arizona.  I have my son on my dental insurance though work.  However eventhough his dad has dental insurance with is job, he will not add our son to his plan.

He says that our son can not have two dental plans.  I want him to be on his dad plan too because my plan is only good in CA.  So when my son is with his dad during the summer brake he may need to go to the dentist but can not. Is his dad correct or am I?  I do not want my son going without while he is in Arizona with is dad.  Advise please.

Answer:  It is okay for your son to have two dental insurance plans. The only thing you want to be careful of is cross coverages. Whatever dental services your son has started with one plan would need to be completed by that plan.

However it should not be a problem for your X to add him to his plan so in case something came up he would be able to take him to the dentist in AZ. He would be better off for it then paying dental cost out of his pocket since your plan does not cover for AZ. Maybe explain things to him that way and see if it helps

Question: I have a ten month old son.  He already has quite a few of his baby teeth in.  Right now all I am doing is wiping them with a warm damp towel.  When do I start using toothpaste and a brush?

Answer: You can start brushing you baby teeth now. Use a baby tooth brush. You can find baby tooth brush kits in the tooth paste section of your local food or drug stores. Also you should book you baby first dental appointment. It is advise that a baby should see a dentist when they cut their first tooth or no latter then their first birthday. The dentist will also be able to go over brushing tips with you for your baby.

For a lower cost dental insurance plan option you may want to review dental HMO insurance plans.  As these types of plans are normally more more affordable then PPO or free choice of dental provider plans.   Most HMO plans provide their benefits based on a predetermined fee schedule.  This is also helpful to people living within a fixed income since cost for dental services are shown prior to buying the plan.

In order to determine the correct time to add your child to your dental insurance plan requires knowing just a few facts about your dental insurance.   If you have a new born and are not sure if you should add your child now or latter to your dental insurance plan.  Call the insurance company and ask them what their policy terms are for adding  additional household members.

Some dental insurance plans do not charge more for having another child,   if  you currently have their family plan.  Therefor,  you can add your child at any time without it effecting you premium cost.

With that being said if you have dental insurance for only you and or you and a spouse,  adding a child may make the cost of your insurance go up.  You may therefor what to wait until the child is older.  Doing that will help avoid any increases in the cost of your plan, until you  start taking your child to see the dentist.

Always check with your plan carrier to verify if you are subject to any enrollment or cut off dates.  That way you can make any necessary plan changes before the cut off period to avoid being out another year or policy term.

The cost of seeing a dentist keeps going up, making it harder and harder to see a dentist regularly.  However, you can help control the rising cost of seeing a dentist just by having dental insurance in place. Depending on your dental needs and preference, there are different dental insurance plan types available to help you.  Do not put of buying dental insurance until major dental care is needed since some dental insurance plan may have waiting periods. Think of your current as well as any future dental needs in order to buy a plan that can best fit both.

It is important that kids maintain their dental health, and although dental health care start at home that is not where it stops.  Kids need to see their dentist at least twice a year or as often as advised by their dentist in order to maintain their dental health care.  Cost can be a factor for many people that is why having dental insurance for your family is equally important. Dental insurance helps to keep dental care cost affordable in many cases provides free to very low preventive dental care costs.

Toothpaste with whitening  is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to help whiten your teeth.  Toothpaste with whitening is really no more costly then toothpaste without whitening. Since you are having to brush your teeth twice a day any way, if you are wanting to brighten up your smile this may be one good affordable way to do so.   Toothpaste with whitening is not consider a bleaching product.  Whitening toothpastes focus more on mild abrasion, working on the discolored surface each time you brush your teeth. Results can be noticeable, however it can take much longer period for that to happen compare to other whitening products.

As of January 1, 2014, most Americans will be required to have dental coverage for their children. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is charged with defining what the benefit plans look like and what the age limit will be. In a November 2012 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the essential health benefits (EHB), HHS proposed an age limit of up to 19, with the option for states to raise it higher.

Also starting in 2014, individuals and small businesses will have access to kids’ dental plans through Health Insurance Exchanges. People who meet certain income requirements will get subsidies to help pay for coverage.

There has been some studies that suggest that green tea may help oral health by improving the health of your gums. Although much more research is needed to establish the benefits, it is believed that the antioxidant catechin present in green tea is an active promoter of healthy gums.

Though many studies done over the years it has been clearly shown that there are links between our oral health and our overall health care. In fact our mouth is like a window into the health of our body. Yet that being said, oral health is still often taken for granted.

Good oral health mean taking care of your entire mouth, which includes your teeth, gums, tongue, jawbone, and any mouth tissues.  By having good oral health care habits, you can help to prevent tooth decay and gingivitis (gum disease) that becomes more common with aging.   Make it a daily habit to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Use a fluoride toothpaste and brush thoroughly at least twice a day or 30 minutes after eating.

Also do not forget to floss your teeth. By flossing each day you can also help to prevent tartar buildup, as the floss cleans between your teeth and stimulates the gums. Flossing is one self-care technique that can greatly reduce your chances of developing serious gingivitis. Make sure see your dentist at least once every six months for checks ups and cleanings.